Erap: Manila needs Jinggoy's pork barrel

By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA - Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday defended his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, after the latter realigned P100 million of his pork barrel funds to the city of Manila.

It was earlier revealed that Sen. Estrada realigned his P200 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to three local government units: P100 million for Manila, P50 million for Caloocan, and P50 million for Lla-lo in Cagayan.

Mayor Estrada said there is nothing wrong in the realignment, as this followed a Supreme Court ruling barring post intervention by lawmakers in the national budget.

Sen. Estrada also explained his move, saying that the realignment was approved by the Senate plenary in the bicameral conference committee, and ratified by both houses.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad earlier said that the realigned pork barrel funds of Sen. Estrada cannot be released without a special budget request.

The P200 million in realigned pork is part of the P405 million subisidy fund for LGUs.

Manila is poor, needs funds

Mayor Estrada welcomed his son's decision to pump more funds to the city government, which he said is in dire need of resources after the previous government supposedly left it bankrupt.

He said the city government's unpaid electric bills to the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) left by his predecessor, Alfredo Lim, amount to P613.6 million. The city also owes P57.7 million to Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

Estrada said among the PPP projects being deliberated by the city council is the P2 billion Manila Zoo rehabilitation project which involves Singaporean investors, and the development of the central market in partnership with SM Development Corp.